Erin Patterson’s Estranged Husband Testifies on Strained Relationship Amid Mushroom Poisoning Trial
Simon Patterson, the estranged husband of Erin Patterson, has described their relationship as “strained” during his testimony in her high-profile murder trial. He was the first witness called by prosecutors in the Supreme Court in Morwell, where Ms Patterson is facing three charges of murder and one of attempted murder.
Mr Patterson recounted that he and Erin met while working at Monash City Council in the early 2000s and married in 2007. Though they separated in 2015, they initially maintained an amicable relationship.
“Erin’s very intelligent,” he told the court. “She’s quite witty and can be quite funny.”
However, their relationship reportedly deteriorated in late 2022. Mr Patterson said tension emerged when Erin became upset that he had formally listed himself as “separated” on his tax return for the first time, which she feared could impact financial arrangements, including potential child support.
Following this, their previously “chatty” communication became strictly “functional,” and at times Erin would not respond to his messages.
Ms Patterson is accused of preparing a beef Wellington meal containing deadly death cap mushrooms, which she served at a family lunch in July 2023 in Leongatha, Victoria. The dish allegedly caused the deaths of her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived after a prolonged hospital stay.
In his opening remarks, defence barrister Colin Mandy SC acknowledged that the guests became ill and three died after consuming the meal. However, he argued that Ms Patterson did not intentionally poison her relatives, stating the incident was “a tragedy and a terrible accident” caused by unknowingly using foraged death cap mushrooms in the dish.
